Music Percussion & Drumming Workshops for Schools: Energizing Education with Rhythm
Musical workshops are a fantastic way to introduce students to the world of rhythm, teamwork, and creativity. Our music workshops for schools offer hands-on experience in percussion instruments, allowing students to explore different sounds, rhythms, and beats in a dynamic and engaging setting. With the vibrant energy of African drumming, the infectious rhythms of samba, and innovative percussion techniques like boomwhackers and junk percussion, our workshops are tailored to inspire students at all learning levels. These musical workshops not only provide an interactive break from traditional learning but also reinforce important skills like coordination, listening, and collaboration.
Our percussion workshops are designed to be accessible to all students, whether they have prior musical experience or are just starting out. By offering a variety of drumming and percussion activities, we ensure that every student has the opportunity to participate, learn, and contribute to the group’s musical creation.
Key Benefits
By the end of this workshop, your students will
Active Learning: Music workshops for schools encourage students to get up, move, and engage with music physically. This hands-on approach to learning makes it more enjoyable and memorable.
Teamwork & Collaboration: Playing percussion instruments in a group requires students to listen to each other, work together, and stay in sync with the collective rhythm. This builds essential teamwork and communication skills.
Confidence & Creativity: Each student gets to explore their musical potential through rhythm and percussion, helping them build confidence as they play their part in a group. It’s an excellent way to boost self-esteem and encourage creative expression.
Inclusion & Participation: Our musical workshops are designed for inclusivity, ensuring that all students can participate regardless of their musical background. The variety of instruments and activities makes it accessible and engaging for everyone.
Physical & Mental Development: Drumming and percussion involve both fine and gross motor skills, improving hand-eye coordination, timing, and rhythm. It also stimulates cognitive processes, enhancing focus, memory, and concentration.
Workshop Topics We Offer
Our storytelling through dance workshops can be customized to fit your school's needs, but here’s a general overview of what students can expect during the workshop
African Drumming
African drumming is a cornerstone of our musical workshops. Using traditional hand drums like djembes, students will experience the powerful, communal rhythms of West African music. African drumming focuses on creating polyrhythms, where different beats are layered together to form a complex, driving rhythm. This type of drumming fosters collaboration and helps students develop their listening skills as they play together to create a unified sound.
African drumming workshops are particularly engaging because they are participatory from the very first beat. Every student plays a drum, contributing to the collective sound. This interactive approach is both educational and fun, making it a favorite in music workshops for schools.
Boomwhacker Percussion
Boomwhackers are brightly colored plastic tubes that produce musical notes when struck against a surface or each other. Boomwhacker percussion workshops are ideal for younger students or those new to music because they offer a simple yet effective way to introduce rhythm and melody. The color-coded tubes make it easy for students to follow along and create music together.
Boomwhacker workshops are interactive, playful, and accessible, making them an excellent option for early years and primary school students. By incorporating movement and rhythm, these workshops engage students in physical and musical learning simultaneously
Junk Percussion
Junk percussion workshops involve creating rhythms using everyday objects like buckets, bins, pots, and pans. These sessions are fantastic for sparking creativity, showing students how anything can become an instrument if they use their imagination. Junk percussion encourages students to think outside the box and repurpose common items to create unique sounds and beats.
This type of workshop not only teaches rhythm and percussion but also promotes sustainability and resourcefulness, showing students that music doesn't always require expensive instruments. Junk percussion is an exciting and innovative addition to music workshops for schools, and students love the freedom to create rhythms from unexpected objects.
Samba Drumming
Samba drumming brings the vibrant, energetic rhythms of Brazil straight into the classroom. In our samba drumming workshops, students will play a variety of percussion instruments including surdos, tamborims, and shakers. Samba is all about creating rhythmic grooves that get everyone moving. It’s loud, fast-paced, and incredibly fun.
Samba drumming teaches students the importance of teamwork and timing, as each player must stay in sync with the others to keep the rhythm flowing. These musical workshops are great for energizing students, teaching them to focus on group dynamics while creating a performance-ready sound.
Body Percussion
Body percussion involves creating rhythms using only the body, such as clapping, stomping, snapping fingers, and slapping thighs. This type of percussion workshop is not only fun but also helps students develop a better sense of timing, rhythm, and coordination without needing any instruments.
Body percussion is a great way to introduce students to music in a highly accessible way since it requires no special equipment. It’s ideal for quick, energizing activities that get everyone involved, regardless of their musical background. These musical workshops are perfect for teaching students that music can be made anywhere, with anything, even their own bodies.
Suitable for EYFS, KS1, KS2, KS3, and KS4
Our music workshops for schools are adaptable for students of all ages and abilities, from EYFS through to KS4. Each age group can enjoy tailored content that matches their developmental stage, ensuring that the workshops are both challenging and fun. For younger students, we focus on simple rhythms, playful activities, and basic coordination, while older students are introduced to more complex rhythms, group performances, and musical discussions.
No matter the age group, our percussion workshops provide a stimulating and enjoyable way for students to engage with music, ensuring that they stay excited and motivated throughout the session.
🧸 EYFS
Play-based activities for young learners
🏃♂️ KS1
Fun & Simple music exercises and cultural rhythms for younger students
🎶 KS2
Intermediate music exercises exploring different drumming & percussion styles in class
🎭 KS3
Explore music language with class peers working as an ensemble creating innovative rhythms
🎓 KS4
Advanced music rhythms and historical sounds creating a performance
Testimonials
“Our students had an incredible time during the percussion workshop. It was engaging, fun, and educational. The hands-on approach made it easy for everyone to get involved and learn.”
– Lisa K.
Primary School Teacher
“The samba drumming session was amazing! The kids were fully immersed in the rhythms, and it really helped them learn the importance of teamwork and timing.”
– Mark R.
Music Coordinator
“We booked the African drumming workshop, and it was fantastic! The students loved it, and it tied in perfectly with our music curriculum. The energy and enthusiasm were contagious.”
– Sarah L.
Head Teacher
Frequently asked question
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Do students need any prior dance experience?No, our workshops are designed for students of all skill levels! Our instructors will teach the steps in a way that’s easy to follow, so everyone can participate, whether they’ve danced before or not.
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How long is the workshop?Our standard workshop lasts for about X to Y minutes, but we can adjust the time to fit your school’s schedule. Just let us know what works best for you.
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What grades is this workshop suitable for?Our workshops are flexible and can be tailored for students of all ages, from primary school to high school. The dances and activities will be adapted to make sure they’re age-appropriate and enjoyable for everyone.
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What package can we book for your school?We offer several options for your school: Full-day workshops Half-day workshops Multi-day workshop bookings (10% discount available)
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What does the school need to provide?All we need is a space big enough for the students to dance, like a gym, a large classroom, or a hall. We’ll bring the rest, including music and any props needed for the workshop.
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How far in advance do we need to book?We recommend booking at least a month in advance to secure your preferred date, especially during busy times of the school year.
Our music workshops for schools provide a unique, interactive way for students to engage with rhythm, sound, and creativity. Through a variety of percussion styles, including African drumming, samba drumming, boomwhackers, body percussion, and junk percussion, students will learn valuable skills in teamwork, coordination, and musical expression. Book a percussion workshop today to bring energy, fun, and education into your school.